I regularly participate in Speaking Crow, a monthly poetry reading in Winnipeg, which includes a featured poet and an open-mic. Even though the readers don’t know what other poets will share, a theme often emerges. I’m always listening for it and I’m thrilled when it happens. I was thinking about that this morning and decided to try it with photos. I went into my old photo file folders and randomly selected some photos.
So, here they are. What do you think the theme might be? I’ll share my thoughts about it towards the end of the post, because I don’t want to influence your thinking. It might be different for each of us, because I’m sure it’s a psychological and spiritual thing.
The above feature photo, taken on a street near my place in Winnipeg, is a fall shot. And the frosty twigs below were out at my Dad’s place in the country.
And I saw these snow shadows on my street early one morning.
Here’s a detail from the Manitoba Legislative Building.
My previous apartment had a patio and I planted these vines in pots and attached chicken wire for them to climb up.
Here’s my Dad out in his yard a few years back.
This photo of poplars, that looks like a painting, was taken on the other side of Dad’s yard.
These flowers were somewhere in Winnipeg.
Three Ambrosia apples were sitting on my kitchen counter one day.
My thoughts, on the theme of these randomly selected photos, involve my dad and the changing of the seasons. This is likely the last winter he will be able to stay out in the country by himself and in the fall I started to worry about how winter would treat him.
Dad’s a very independent person, who’s lived in the country all his life, building and fixing things himself, but it’s not so easy for him now. Growing up, as the youngest child, I was his sidekick and helper. That’s how I learned how to do things like attach chicken wire to fences for the vines.
He’s pretty much had to give up the garden now, though he still picks volunteer tomatoes and skirts the wild flowers as he mows the grass.
Maybe the photo of the Manitoba Legislative Building detail alludes to the rousing discussions we still have about the government and those frustrating politicians.
Lately, Dad speaks a lot about spring, but with a touch of sadness, as the house will be up for sale and he’s not looking forward to apartment living. Maybe the photo of apples represents my hope for a positive outcome to it all.
I’m curious to know what theme came to you?
Through Camera & Pen 
I saw lines and shadows, stems and wires and did think about changing seasons but the Manitoba Legislature threw me off. Your explanation of the theme is lovely. The theme could just be beauty too – so many forms of beauty and so many beautiful photos.
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Thanks, yes there is so much out there that is beautiful. So many photos to take. 🙂
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I love the photos, and the bits about your dad. My dad had a very similar story, and it was very hard for him to move to an apartment when the time came. The pictures made me think of phases–of nature, of life, of society.
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Thanks,Candice. I can see those phases. It seems harder for Dad’s.
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Hi Louella,
It’s great to see that you are out and about writing and reading. John and I are slowly recovering from Sean’s death, but as others who have experienced loss or the death of a child remind us, grief comes in waves. They sure seem to be right about that characteristic.
I bet you’ve been extra cold this winter. We sure have.
Cylia
On Mon, Mar 4, 2019 at 6:10 AM Through Camera & Pen wrote:
> Louella Lester posted: “I regularly participate in Speaking Crow, a > monthly poetry reading in Winnipeg, which includes a featured poet and an > open-mic. Even though the readers don’t know what other poets will share, a > theme often emerges. I’m always listening for it and I’m thri” >
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Thanks Cylia. I’m glad to hear that you are recovering, even if it is a slow process. ❤️ yes, it’s been a cold winter. I sent you & Alisdair an email a while back. I signed a contract with a publisher and will have a creative nonfiction book out in spring 2020. I didn’t hear back from either of you. I may have used the wrong email for you. I sent it to the gmail one. Is that correct? I can resend it if you didn’t get it. Let me know. Great to hear from you. And I hope recovery keeps coming.
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We all have various support in life.
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That’s a good one, too. 😀
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The theme that spoke to me was of the play of light. Light and shadow.
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Good one, Jocelyn 🙂
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The strength of veins and backbones. What holds us up. Keeps us going.
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Yes, that’s a good way of looking at it🙂
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